Parliament of the State of Windenburg

The Parliament of the State of Windenburg is the legislative body of the State of Windenburg. The State Parliament holds legislative powers over certain aspects of policy as outlined in the Federal Constitution. The Parliament is bicameral, consisting of the State Senate and the House of Representatives. The two Houses meet at the Parliament of Windenburg in the District of Windslar, a district on the outskirts of the State’s capital, Olde Platz.

The State Senate consists of State Senators, who each serve 6 year terms, although elections are staggered so that half of the State Senate is elected at a time. State Senators represent large, multi-member constituencies and are elected through the system of Single Transferable Vote. State Cabinet Ministers can be appointed from the State Senate, however members of the state government in this chamber are usually junior ministers.

The House of Representatives consists of Members of State Parliament (MSPs). 110 MSPs represent single-member constituencies, and the remaining 95 MSPs are from Party lists. The entire House is elected every 3 years through the Mixed-Member Proportional system. Under the Constitution, the First Minister of the State of Windenburg must come from the House of Representatives, and it is convention that the vast majority of State Cabinet-level Ministers are appointed from the House of Representatives.

History
The Parliament of the State of Windenburg is the oldest and largest of the State Parliaments. The Constitution of the State of Windenburg was the first to be ratified following the creation of the Federal Republic of Simland, and so it was the first state to create it’s legislative body. Originally, the State House of Representatives consisted of 110 MSPs, using a first-past-the-post electoral system, however, as the population of the state began to increase, the Constitution was amended and MMP was introduced as the electoral system of the House of Representatives. The State Senate initially consisted of 50 State Senators, however this number was once again modified, with the Constitution mandating that the number of seats in the senate must be half of the number of seats in the House of Representatives rounded to the nearest 10.

Composition and Powers
The legislative authority of the Parliament comes from the Constitution. Ministers of the State must be members of either one of the chambers of Parliament. All bills passed by the Parliament must receive Gubernatorial Approval in order to become state law. The Governor can reject a bill, but this is rare and a two thirds majority in both Houses can overturn this veto.

The Governor appoints the First Minister of the State. The First Minister must be a member of the House of Representatives and must command the support of that House. Upon appointment, the First Minister forms a state government, consisting of Ministers of the State.

The powers of the State Senate are less than those of the House of Representatives. Both Houses can introduce legislation, and neither House can block legislation from the other. The State Senate cannot reject bills from the House of Representatives, however they can amend them and delay them. All amendments must be voted on by both Houses in order to remain a part of the bill.

The State Senate is formally known as ‘The Honourable Senators of the State of Windenburg in Parliament Assembled’, and the House of Representatives is known as ‘The Honourable Representatives of the State of Windenburg in Parliament Assembled’. As of 2031, the House of Representatives consists of 205 MSPs and the State Senate 100 State Senators. There are 110 single-member constituencies for the House of Representatives, and the remaining 95 seats are list seats, apportioned by each party’s share of the party vote. State Senators are elected from 20 5-member constituencies. This number has changed as the number of seats in the House of Representatives has increased. MSPs are elected every 3 years when the entire Parliament is dissolved. Half of the State Senators are also elected at the same time. State Senators serve 6 year terms, but these are staggered so half of the chamber is elected at each election.

Each chamber has an impartial presiding officer, in the House of Representatives it is the Speaker, in the State Senate it is the President. These individuals cannot cast a vote unless it is a tie-breaker.

In the House of Representatives, if no party obtains a majority of seats (103), there is a Hung Parliament, and so parties must work together to form a coalition government. In the State Senate, majorities are often desired by governing parties but are never required for a party to form a government in the lower house. No governing party has ever obtained a majority in both Houses of Parliament.

State Opening of Parliament
This is an annual event that takes place to mark the beginning of the new legislative year. The event takes place in the State Senate Chamber, and the Members of the House of Representatives are summoned by the Sergeant-at-arms of the State Senate, upon the request of the Governor of Windenburg.

The Members of the House of Representatives walk to the State Senate Chamber, where the Governor reads a speech from the President of the State Senate’s chair at the top of the rostrum. This is known as the Speech from the Rostrum. This speech is prepared by the First Minister and read by the Governor, outlining the government’s legislative agenda for the coming year.

Following the speech, both Houses hold a vote to approve the speech.

Legislative Procedure
Both Houses of the State Parliament are presided over by a speaker. In the House of Representatives it is the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and in the State Senate it is the President of the State Senate.

In both Houses, the speakership and presidency are elected at the beginning of each new Parliament, so every 3 years. By convention, the incumbent is re-elected unopposed. If the incumbent is not standing again, an election process takes place.

In the House of Representatives, the position of Deputy Speaker is held by the Chairman of the Committee on House Procedure. If both the Speaker and Deputy Speaker are unable to preside, other committee chairmen take up the position.

In the State Senate, the position of Deputy President is held by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Rules.

In the House of Representatives, speeches are addressed to the Speaker (Mr Speaker/Madam Speaker), whereas in the State Senate, speeches are addressed to both the President and the State Senate as a whole (Mr/Madam President, State Senators).

Both Houses may take a voice vote, where the speaker will ask the question and request members to express support or opposition by saying either ‘Aye’ or ‘No’. If it is unclear which side has won, an electronic vote will be called, where the Speaker will call ‘Division! Clear the Lobbies!’. This phrase comes from a time when electronic voting did not exist, and so members voted by walking through lobbies on either side of the chamber. The phrase remains in use because the voting machines are in the lobbies, although there are no longer specified ‘Aye’ and ‘No’ lobbies

The proceedings of both Houses are usually public, with the proceedings being televised.

Duration
Under the Constitution of Windenburg, a Parliament lasts for 3 years. At the end of a Parliament, the Governor will dissolve both Houses and an election will begin, lasting no more than 8 weeks.

Following an election, Parliament is recalled by the Governor, and the Speaker and President are elected by both chambers. Following that election, the members of both Houses take the Oath of Office for their respective roles.

For a Member of State Parliament (MSP):

I [insert name], solemnly swear/affirm, that I will uphold and protect the Constitution of the State of Windenburg, that I will bear true allegiance to the Federal Republic of Simland, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the Office of Member of State Parliament (so help me God)

For a State Senator:

I [insert name], solemnly swear/affirm, that I will uphold and protect the Constitution of the State of Windenburg, that I will bear true allegiance to the Federal Republic of Simland, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the Office of State Senator(so help me God).

Following the swearing in of members, the Governor makes the Speech from the Rostrum, and both Houses begin their normal proceedings until Parliament is prorogued at the end of the legislative year.

Legislative Functions
Bills passed by both Houses of Parliament become Acts of State Parliament. Acts passed by the State Parliament only have authority over the territory controlled by the State. Acts of State Parliament are superseded by Acts of the Federal Parliament.

Bills can be proposed by any member of any House. Bills proposed by State Government Ministers are known as ‘State Government Bills’. Bills proposed by members of the House of Representatives are known as ‘Private Members Bills’. Bills proposed by State Senators are known as ‘Private Senators Bills’.

Private Members and Senators Bills are far less likely to be passed than State Government Bills, although the Government might support such a bill, which often helps to get them passed.

Bills go through several stages in Parliament. They are introduced to a House at the ‘First Reading’. Following this there is a ‘Second Reading’, where all facets of the Bill are debated, and the House may vote to reject the bill. If this happens in the House of Representatives, it might lead to a vote of no confidence in the State Government, but if it happens in the State Senate then it does not affect confidence in the State Government.

Following passage at Second Reading, the Bill moves to the Committee Stage, where House of Representatives and State Senate committees. Committees examine the Bill and can propose amendments. Upon completing the committee stage, the Bill is sent back to the floor of the House and the Speaker or President selects which amendments are to be considered for debate. Votes are then held on the amendments. Once completed, the House may vote on the bill, and if it is passed then the Bill progresses to the other House. If that House does not amend the Bill and passes it in its original form, the Bill is sent for Gubernatorial Approval. If the other House amends the Bill, it is sent back to the original House for a vote on the newly amended Bill. If the Houses cannot deal with any disagreements, the Bill will fail.

For State Bills, the Governor almost always grants assent, as the Governor is appointed by the President, not elected by the people. Historically, Governors who make a habit of rejecting Bills are often recalled by the President and asked to resign, as a Governor’s actions can affect the President.

Relationship with the Windenburg Government
The Government of the State of Windenburg is comprised of members of both Houses of Parliament, and so it accountable to the legislature. The First Minister and a majority of Cabinet-level Ministers are appointed from the House of Representatives, and most junior Ministers and a minority of Cabinet-level Ministers are appointed from the State Senate.

The First Minister is always the individual who can command the support of the majority of the House of Representatives. By convention, this person is usually the leader of the State political party.

Governments hold considerable power through their built-in majority in the House of Representatives, and so can pass any Bills they like within reason. Government Ministers are accountable to Parliament, with both the State Senate and the House of Representatives holding ministerial question times throughout the week where members of their respective houses can ask government Ministers questions. Members of both Houses can also submit written Parliamentary questions to Ministers.

Governments do not require the confidence of the State Senate, as it is almost impossible for a government to achieve a majority in that House, and so a government only requires confidence from the lower house. As such, only the House of Representatives can bring down a government by passing a motion of no confidence of rejecting a motion of confidence. The State Senate can pass a motion of no confidence if they wish, but it holds no authority and the government has no obligation to respond to it.